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Reds star likened to Digby Ioane and Marika Koroibete after upset win
By Finn Morton
Digby Ioane’s famous ‘turtle’ try celebration against the Bulls in 2011 is one of the most iconic moments in Queensland Reds history. With Quade Cooper, Will Genia, and captain James Horwill also featured in the First XV that year, the Reds went on to win Super Rugby.
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Ioane holds a special place in Reds history, and the same can be said for Marika Koroibete’s influence in Wallaby gold. As a two-time winner of the prestigious John Eales Medal, which is awarded to the Wallabies’ best player, Koroibete holds a special place in rugby’s history.
These two men are genuine icons of Australian rugby, and that’s what makes recent comments from Horwill and former Wallaby Morgan Turinui especially interesting and thought-provoking. They’ve compared Filipo Daugunu to Ioane and Koroibete after the Reds’ latest win.
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Daugunu lined up at outside centre for the Reds at Dunedin’s Forsyth Barr Stadium in round six, and the utility finished with a decisive double in a 29-23 upset win. That was the Reds’ first win in Dunedin since Horwill’s playing days back in 2013.
After starring for the Wallabies in both Tests against Wales last July before suffering an injury, Daugunu returned to Queensland for a second stint with the Reds after some time with the Melbourne Rebels. With five tries in six games, Daugunu hasn’t skipped a beat.
“Probably wing is his better position, I think 13 he’s filling for [Josh Flook]. I think he’s a better winger because he can pick and choose his moments, he’s got a bit more roaming, sort of like Digby used to have at the Reds” Horwill said on Stan Sport’s Between Two Posts.
“Just to be able to come off nine, give the forwards a bit of a break, and pick a moment whereas 13… it’s a real critical defensive channel that you don’t want to be going rogue and going off piece if they come out that way.
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“I think he’s been excellent. We’ve seen how much we’ve missed him, just his physicality and defensive work at the breakdown for an outside back makes teams commit numbers wide because they know he’s there.”
Turinui added: “When he’s on the wing he can play that Koroibete role.”
Daugunu started the season with two tries in as many appearances on the left wing for the Reds before shifting to the midfield. The Wallaby has started the last three matches in the No. 13 jumper while Josh Flook has been sidelined with an injury.
Flook is one of multiple Wallabies in the Reds’ injury ward at the moment. Jock Campbell, Matt Faessler, Fraser McReight and Liam Wright are some of the others, but the Queenslanders still managed to make history with a stunning win over the Landers.
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“This is a very different narrative once again for Australian teams,” Turinui began to explain.
“20 points to 12 down with 29 minutes go, they use their bench. You’re missing five or six of your absolutely best… then you’ve got the starting 15, so you’re down to your 20th and onwards players coming off the bench, of your quality.
“Normally Australian teams in the past, that’s when we peter out and get swamped later, especially in New Zealand… The Reds actually dominated where the game was played, toughed it out on the opposition line defensively and in attack, got their set-piece going with the use of the bench.
“It’s a great sign for a Queensland Reds team that once again, has more improvement in it. There’s a couple of names in there that were absolutely outstanding that are often not starters for the Reds.”
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He would be one of the world's best wingers if he could eliminate his silly errors via brain explosions. Hopefully the Refs brain staff are working on him to stay calm, focussed and disciplined.